Adapter

ABSTRACT

An adapter allows a remote device to use a contactless power supply. The adapter has a contactless power interface for receiving power from a contactless power supply and a power regulator for supplying power to the remote device. The adapter may have a rechargeable power source for operating the adapter and a power regulator.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to and benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/444,794, entitled Adaptively InductivelyCoupled Ballast Circuit, by David W. Baarman, filed Feb. 4, 2003. Thefull disclosure of the prior application is incorporated herein byreference. This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S.application Ser. No. 10/357,932, entitled Inductively Powered Apparatus,which is hereby incorporated by reference.

[0002] This application incorporates by reference the followingapplications filed on the same date and assigned to the same assignee asthis application: Adaptive Inductive Power Supply, Ser. No. ______;Inductive Coil Assembly, Ser. No. ______; Electrostatic Charge StorageAssembly, Ser. No. ______ and Adaptive Inductive Power Supply withCommunication, Ser. No. ______.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] This relates generally to electronic devices, and morespecifically to the contactless supply of power and communication to anelectronic device.

[0004] A CPS (contactless power supply) provides power to a remotedevice without any physical connection. An adaptive CPS allows power tobe simultaneously provided to a number of different remote devices.Thus, a CD player, an MP3 player, and a cellular telephone could all besupplied power from the same adaptive CPS at the same time. One of theprimary advantages of an adaptive CPS is to free the user frommaintaining an array of charging equipment, cables and batteries topower the system. With a CPS and appropriately equipped remote devices,there is no need for separate chargers, cables and batteries for eachremote device.

[0005] However, these remote devices must be constructed with theability to obtain power from the CPS. There are many remote devices thatare in use which have not been specifically built to use a CPS.

[0006] Some remote devices, such as MP3 players, are required tocommunicate with workstations. When connecting such a remote device to aworkstation, the user connects a cable between the remote device and theworkstation. The use of the cable further clutters the work area aroundthe workstation and causes increased problems.

[0007] An adapter to enable these remote devices with no CPS powerinterface to utilize a CPS would be highly desirable. An adapter whichwould also enable the remote devices to access a workstation is alsohighly desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An adapter for coupling a remote device with a rechargeable powersource has a contactless power interface and a power regulator forsupplying power to the remote device. The adapter may have arechargeable power source, such as a battery, for powering the adapter.The adapter may also have a first transceiver for communicating with thecontactless power supply.

[0009] The adapter may have a second transceiver for communicating withthe remote device. Alternatively, the adapter may have simply atransmitter.

[0010] The contactless power interface may include a variable impedanceelement, such as a variable inductor. A controller is coupled to thevariable impedance element and can change the impedance of the variableimpedance element. The controller changes the impedance of the variableimpedance element in response to instructions from the contactless powersupply.

[0011] The operating of the adapter may include obtaining charginginformation from the remote device and then providing the charginginformation to the contactless power supply. Power is then supplied tothe remote device. Alternatively, the adapter may have a memory which ispre-loaded with power information for the specific remote device.

[0012] If equipped with a first and second transceiver, the adapterestablishes a first communication link between the adapter and theremote device. The adapter establishes a second communication linkbetween the adapter and the remote device. The adapter then receives thepower requirement information from the adapter and sends the powerrequirement information to the contactless power supply.

[0013] When the adaptive power interface has an adjustable element, thenthe contactless power supply will be set to an optimal setting for theadjustable element. If the adjustable element is a variable inductor,and the step of determining an optimal setting for the adjustableelement comprises determining the optimal inductance setting for thevariable inductor.

[0014] The adapter and the method for operating the adapter allow aremote device to use a contactless power supply even though the remotedevice was not specifically designed to operate with a contactlesspowers supply. Additionally, the adapter allows for the remote device tobe connected to a workstation attached to the contactless power supply.

[0015] These and other objects, advantages and features of the inventionwill be more readily understood and appreciated by reference to thedetailed description of the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 shows an adapter, a remote device and a CPS.

[0017]FIG. 2 shows a CPS system interfaced with a computer workstationand a remote device equipped with a CPS interface.

[0018]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a CPS interface for a remote device.

[0019]FIG. 4 is a method of operation of a CPS interface.

[0020]FIG. 5 is an alternative embodiment for the adapter.

[0021]FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of a CPS interface.

[0022]FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of a CPS interface having a half-waverectifier.

[0023]FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram of a CPS interface having a full-waverectifier.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024]FIG. 1 shows CPS 10 connected to remote device 12 by way ofadapter 14. Remote device 12 could be a notebook computer, a PDA(personal digital assistant), a cellular telephone, an MP3 (MovingPicture Experts Group Layer-3 Audio) player, or any one of a myriad ofportable electronic devices. CPS 10 provides power to remote device 12through adapter 14. Further, if remote device 12 has a communicationbus, as many remote devices do, CPS 10 could communicate directly withremote device 12 by way of adapter 14.

[0025]FIG. 2 shows CPS 10 is connected to PC (personal computer) 16. PC16 is coupled to network 18. Network 18 could be a LAN (local areanetwork), a WAN (wide area network) or the Internet. Personal computer16 can communicate with remote device 12 by way of CPS 10. According tothis embodiment, remote device 12 can communicate with PC 16 andoptionally network 18 by way of adapter 14 and CPS 10.

[0026]FIG. 3 shows block diagrams of CPS 10, adapter 14, and remotedevice 12. Remote device rechargeable power source 20 supplies power toremote device 12. Rechargeable device power source monitor 22 overseesthe operation of rechargeable power source 20. Rechargeable device powersource monitor 22 and remote device rechargeable power source 20 couldbe components of modern rechargeable batteries known commonly as “smartbatteries” or “intelligent batteries”. In smart batteries, rechargeabledevice power source monitor 22 can provide information related theoperation and power requirements of remote device rechargeable powersource 20, such as the temperature, current draw, voltage, remainingcharge, and estimated time to complete charge. Further enhancements tothe information supplied by smart batteries have been proposed. Forexample, U.S. Pat. No. 5,572,110 contains several enhancements forinformation that could be monitored relating to the operation of a smartbattery.

[0027] Comm link 24 is a communication link provided within remotedevice 12. Comm link 24 could be a USB, RS-232, serial, single wire, twowire, on any other suitable communication link. Comm link 24 could beconnected to the system management bus of remote device 12 or directlyto the rechargeable device power source monitor 22.

[0028] Remote device 12 could also contain a number of other systemsproviding unique functionality of remote device 12.

[0029] PC 16 is connected to CPS 10 by way of PC interface 30. PCinterface 30 could be any type of interface, such as USB (universalserial bus), Firewire, RS-232, parallel, Bluetooth, WIFI, or any otherinterface allowing two-way communication between two or more devices.

[0030] CPS controller 32 has a number of different functions. Itcontrols the communication of PC 16 through PC interface 30. It alsocontrols the operation of CPS power interface 34. One embodiment of CPSpower interface 34 is more fully described in application “AdaptiveInductive Power Supply,” assigned to the assignee of this applicationnaming David Baarman as inventor, Ser. No. ______, which is herebyincorporated by reference. CPS controller 32 can adjust the frequency,duty cycle, and resonant frequency of CPS power interface 34.

[0031] CPS controller 32 also controls the operation of transceiver 36.CPS transceiver 36 could use many different types of communicationprotocols. CPS transceiver 36 could be entirely separate from CPS powerinterface 34 and have its own communication antenna and communicationprotocol. Alternatively, it could be integral with CPS power interfaceand communicate with a remote device by was of any one of a number ofPLC (power line communication) protocols.

[0032] Adapter 14 contains adapter controller 38. Adapter controller 38controls the various components of adapter 14. Adapter controller 38could be any one of a multitude of commonly available microcontrollersprogrammed to perform the functions hereinafter described, such as theIntel 8051 or the Motorola 6811, or any of the many variants of thosemicrocontrollers. Adapter controller 38 could have a ROM (read onlymemory) and RAM (random access memory) on the chip. Adapter controller38 could have a series of analog and digital outputs for controlling thevarious functions within adapter 14.

[0033] Adapter controller 38 is connected to contactless power interface40. Alternatively, adapter controller 38 could be a microprocessor inassociation with a microcontroller.

[0034] Contactless power interface 40 could include a resonant tankcircuit. If contactless power interface contained a resonant tankcircuit, then adapter controller 38 could control, among other things,the resonant frequency of contactless power interface 40 as well aswhether contactless power interface 40 is coupled to any other devicesin adapter 14. To vary the resonant frequency of the tank circuit,contactless power interface 40 would adjust the impedance of a variableimpedance element. If the variable impedance element were a variableinductor, then the inductance of the variable inductor would be changed.

[0035] Contactless power interface 40 is connected to adapterrechargeable power source 42. Adapter rechargeable power source 42 isthe power supply for the Adapter 14. Adapter rechargeable power source42 could include a conventional rechargeable battery or amicrocapacitor. A microcapacitor would be preferable due to its veryshort charging time.

[0036] Adapter transceiver 44 allows communication with CPS transceiver36. Adapter transceiver 44 and CPS transceiver 36 would use the sameprotocol and method of communication. Adapter controller 38 regulatesthe communication through adapter transceiver 44.

[0037] Alternatively, adapter transceiver 44 could be simply atransmitter. In such a situation, only limited information would be sentto transceiver 36, such as the power consumption information for remotedevice 12. The power consumption information of remote device 12 oradapter 14 could be stored in memory 50. In such a situation, adaptertransceiver 44 could be simply an RFID (radio frequency identification)device.

[0038] Second transceiver 46 provides a communication path with remotedevice 12 by connecting with remote device remote device transceiver 24.The connection with remote device remote device transceiver 24 could bephysical. Thus, information could be transmitted between PC 16 andremote device 12 by way of remote device remote device transceiver 24,adapter second transceiver 46, adapter transceiver 44, CPS transceiver36, and PC interface 30.

[0039] Power regulator 48 supplies power to remote device rechargeablepower source 20. Power regulator 48 could contain discrete components orit could be a single integrated circuit dedicated to voltage, currentand/or power regulation. Power regulator 48 can be turned on or off byadapter controller 38. Further, adapter controller 38 can control thevoltage and current output of power regulator 48 to remote devicerechargeable power source 20.

[0040] Memory 50 is coupled to adapter controller 38. Memory 50 containsinformation relating to remote device 12. Memory 50 also optionallycontains an identification number identifying remote device 12. Forexample, memory 50 might contain an identification number indicatingthat adapter 14 is for use with a specific type of PDA, such as a PalmPilot.

[0041] In such a situation, the identification number could then be usedby CPS 10 to determine from a look-up table the power usage informationabout adapter 14 and remote device 12.

[0042]FIG. 4 shows the operation of CPS 10, remote device 12 and Adapter14. CPS 10 is provided with power from an external power supply (notshown) and energizes CPS power interface 34. Placement of contactlesspower interface 40 within proximity of the energized CPS 10 inducescharging of adapter rechargeable power source 42. Step 100. Obviously,if adapter rechargeable power source 42 is already charged, no furthercharging occurs. Once sufficient charge is stored within adapterrechargeable power source 42, adapter controller 38, adapter secondtransceiver 46, and adapter transceiver 44 are energized. Step 102.

[0043] A data communication link is then established between CPS 10 andAdapter 14. Step 104. A second data communication link between adapter14 and remote device 12 is then established. Step 106. At this time,charging information is obtained from remote device 12. Step 108.Charging information could include amount of charge remaining withinrechargeable power source 20, the time to recharge the rechargeablepower source 20, the voltage requirements of remote device 12 to chargerechargeable power source 20, and the current requirements of remotedevice 12 to charge rechargeable power source 20. Adapter 14 thenprovides this charging information to CPS 10. Step 110.

[0044] CPS 10 then calculates the optimal setting for contactless powerinterface 40. Step 112. CPS 10 could provide that information to adapter14. Alternatively, adapter 14 could retrieve similar information fromremote device 12. Step 114. Adapter controller 38 then configurescontactless power interface 40. Step 116. It could be that rechargeablepower source 20 is charged or cannot be charged. In that case, CPS 10would configure adapter 14 to supply no power to remote device 12.

[0045] If contactless power interface 40 includes an adjustable resonanttank circuit, adapter controller 38 could configure the resonantfrequency of the adjustable resonant tank circuit.

[0046] At that time, if necessary, charging of the rechargeable powersource 20 commences. Step 118. Adapter 14 then checks CPS 10 todetermine if CPS has sufficient capacity to charge remote device 12.Step 120. If not, charging ceases. Step 122. If so, then Adapter 14determines from remote device 12 whether charging should continue. Step124. If not, charging ceases. Step 122.

[0047] At this time, charging information is retrieved from remotedevice 12, and the process is repeated. Step 108.

[0048]FIG. 5 shows another embodiment for the adapter. Housing 140encloses a secondary winding 142, a charging circuit 144, and arechargeable power source 146. Secondary winding 142 receives power fromCPS 10. Secondary winding 142 could be a triaxial winding having threewinding orthogonally disposed, as is more fully described in a patentapplication entitled, Inductive Coil Assembly, assigned to the assigneeof this application, and naming David W. Baarman and Terry L.Lautzenheiser as inventors.

[0049] Charging circuit 144 supplies the power in an appropriate form torechargeable power source 146. Rechargeable power source 146 could be,for example, a super capacitor or a rechargeable battery. Connectors148, 150 allow the adapter to be placed within the remote device as areplacement for the battery. For example, if the remote device used a 12volt dry cell battery, then housing 140 would be of the same shape andconfiguration as a 12 volt dry cell battery. Thus, the adapter would bea ‘drop-in’ replacement for the 12 volt dry cell battery. Alternatively,if the remote device used a 600 MA lithium ion battery, then housing 140and electrical connectors 148, 150 would be configured to look andoperate similar to that particular battery.

[0050] The adapter shown in FIG. 5 could be equipped with wirelesstransceiver 152 if the remote device has a communication port, such as aUSB or firewire port. Wireless transceiver 152 could receive and sendinformation to a workstation by way of CPS 10. Wireless transceiver 152is connected to dongle 154. Dongle 154 is supplied with dongle connector156. Dongle connector 156 would be placed into the communication port ofthe remote device. Communication is thereby enabled between the remotedevice and the CPS.

[0051] FIGS. 6-8 show circuit diagrams for three embodiments of adapter14. In these embodiments, adapter 14 supplies power only to remotedevice 12. The adapter 14 includes multiple coils in differentorientations to provide improved coupling when the remote device is atdifferent orientations within the electromagnetic field generated b CPS.

[0052]FIG. 6 illustrates an adapter for connection to a remote device.As shown, three coils 202, 204, 206 are connected in parallel to theload. The three coils could be orthogonally configured, as described inpatent application Inductive Coil Assembly, assigned to the assignee ofthis application, and filed on the same day as this application.Capacitors 206, 208, 210 and diodes 212, 214, 216 are connected inseries with each coil 200, 202, 204. The values of the variouscomponents are selected to provide a resonant frequency. The powerinduced within each of coil 202, 204, 206 is combined at the input ofpower regulator 218. Alternatively, diodes 212, 214, 216 can beeliminated from the circuit 680 to provide AC power to power regulator218. Power regulator 218 regulates the voltage and current available atterminals 220, 222. Terminals 220, 222 are for connection to the powerinput of a remote device.

[0053]FIG. 7 shows an adapter using a half wave rectifier receivingpower from three separate coils 240, 242, 244. As shown, coils 240, 242,244 are connected in parallel to power regulator 246 through anarrangement of diodes 248, 250, 252, 254, 256, 258 connected in serieswith each coil 240, 242, 244. In this embodiment, the value of eachdiode 248, 250, 252, 254, 256, 258 is determined based primarily on thecharacteristics of power regulator 246. Power regulator 246 provides arelatively constant voltage and current output at terminals 241, 243.Additionally, a capacitor 260, 262, 264 is connected in series betweenone side of coil 240, 242, 244 and the corresponding diodes 250, 254,258. The value of each capacitor 260, 262, 264 is also determined basedprimarily on the characteristics of the load.

[0054]FIG. 8 illustrates a full wave rectifier circuit used within anadapter. As shown, coils 270, 272, 274 are connected in parallel topower regulator 276 through an arrangement of diodes 278, 280, 282, 284,286, 288, 290, 292, 294, 296, 298, 300. In this embodiment, the value ofeach diode 278, 280, 282, 284, 286, 288, 290, 292, 294, 296, 298, 300 isdetermined based primarily on the characteristics of power regulator276. Power regulator 276 provides a relatively constant voltage andcurrent output at terminals 271, 273. Additionally, each capacitor 302,304, 306 is connected in series between one side of the respective coil270, 272, 274 and the corresponding diodes 282, 284, 290, 292, 296, 300.The value of each capacitor 302, 304, 306 is determined based primarilyon the characteristics of power regulator 276.

[0055] Power regulators 218, 246, 276 are able to provide at theirrespective output terminals a constant voltage and constant current,even when the power derived from the coils is operating at differentfrequencies. CPS 10 may provide power at different frequencies. Thus,the current and voltage induced in the respective coils of the adaptercould also have different currents and voltages. Power regulators 218,246, 276 are designed to accommodate the difference in the current andvoltage produced by the coils.

[0056] The above description is of the preferred embodiment. Variousalterations and changes can be made without departing from the spiritand broader aspects of the invention as defined in the appended claims,which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles of patentlaw including the doctrine of equivalents. Any references to claimelements in the singular, for example, using the articles “a,” “an,”“the,” or “said,” is not to be construed as limiting the element to thesingular.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. An adapter for a remotedevice having a remote device rechargeable source comprising: acontactless power interface for receiving power from a contactless powersupply; a power regulator for supplying power to the remote device; anda rechargeable power source for powering the adapter.
 2. The adapter ofclaim 1 further comprising a transceiver for communicating with thecontactless power supply.
 3. The adapter of claim 2 further comprising acontroller, the controller controlling the power regulator.
 4. Theadapter of claim 3 further comprising a communication link forcommunicating with the remote device.
 5. The adapter of claim 4 wherethe contactless power interface includes a variable impedance element,the variable impedance element having an impedance.
 6. The adapter ofclaim 5 where the controller is coupled to the variable impedanceelement, and the controller capable of changing the impedance of thevariable impedance element.
 7. The adapter of claim 6 where the variableimpedance element is a variable inductor.
 8. The adapter of claim 7where the controller varies the impedance of the variable inductor inresponse to instructions from the contactless power supply.
 9. Theadapter of claim 8 where the adapter includes a secondary winding. 10.The adapter of claim 9 where the controller is coupled to a memory. 11.The adapter of claim 10 where the memory includes an identifier.
 12. Theadapter of claim 11 where the adapter can obtain power requirements fromthe remote device.
 13. An adapter for connection to a remote device, theremote device having a remote device rechargeable power source,comprising: a contactless power interface for receiving power from acontactless power supply; a power regulator for supplying power to theremote device for charging the remote device rechargeable power source;and a receiver for communicating with the contactless power supply. 14.The adapter of claim 13 further comprising a secondary winding.
 15. Theadapter of claim 14 further comprising a power supply.
 16. The adapterof claim 15 further comprising a controller, the controller controllingthe power regulator.
 17. The adapter of claim 16 further comprising acommunication link for communicating with the remote device.
 18. Theadapter of claim 17 where the contactless power interface includes avariable impedance element.
 19. The adapter of claim 18 where thecontroller is coupled to the variable impedance element, and thecontroller can change the impedance of the variable impedance element.20. The adapter of claim 19 where the variable impedance element is avariable inductor.
 21. The adapter of claim 20 where the controllervaries the impedance of the variable inductor in response toinstructions from the contactless power supply.
 22. The adapter of claim21 where the controller is coupled to a memory.
 23. A method ofoperating an adapter for recharging a remote device rechargeable powersource contained with a remote device with power from a contactlesspower supply comprising the steps of: obtaining charging informationfrom the remote device; providing the charging information to thecontactless power supply; and supplying power to the remote device. 24.The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of the contactlesspower supply receiving power requirement information from the remotedevice.
 25. The method of claim 24 where the adapter has a firsttransceiver for communicating with the contactless power supply furthercomprising the step of establishing a first communication link betweenthe adapter and the contactless power supply.
 26. The method of claim 25where the adapter sends the power requirement information from theremote device by way of the first communication link.
 27. The method ofclaim 26 where the adapter has a second transceiver for communicatingwith the remote device further comprising the step of establishing asecond communication link between the adapter and the remote device. 28.The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of the adaptersending the power requirement information to the contactless powersupply by way of the second communication link.
 29. The method of claim28 where the adapter includes a contactless power interface, and thecontactless power interface has an adjustable element, furthercomprising the step of determining an optimal setting for the adjustableelement.
 30. The method of claim 29 where the adjustable element is avariable inductor, and the step of determining an optimal setting forthe adjustable element comprises determining the optimal inductancesetting for the variable inductor.
 31. The method of claim 30 furthercomprising the step of determining whether the rechargeable power sourceis charged.
 32. An adapter for supplying power to a remote device from acontactless power supply comprising: a secondary having a first coil, asecond coil and a third coil, each coil being substantially orthogonalto the other coils and a power regulator.
 33. The adapter of claim 32further comprising a first capacitor coupled with the first coil, asecond capacitor coupled with the second capacitor and a third capacitorcoupled with the third capacitor.
 34. The adapter of claim 33 furthercomprising a rectifier coupled to the secondary for converting an ACsignal induced in the secondary to DC.
 35. The adapter of claim 34 wherethe rectifier is a half-wave rectifier.
 36. The adapter of claim 34where the rectifier is a full-wave rectifier.
 37. The adapter of claim34 where the rectifier consists of a first diode in series with thefirst coil, a second diode in series with the second coil and a thirddiode in series with the second coil.
 38. The adapter of claim 37 wherethe first capacitor in series with the first coil and the first diode,the second capacitor is in series with the second coil and the seconddiode, and the third capacitor is in series with the third coil and thethird diode.
 39. The adapter of claim 38 further comprising a fourthdiode in series with the first coil, a fifth diode in series with thesecond coil, and a sixth diode in series with the third coil.
 40. For aremote device having a removable power supply, an adapter comprising:electrical connectors disposed in the same configuration as that of theremovable power supply; and a secondary winding for receiving power froma contactless power supply and supplying power to the electricalconnectors.
 41. The adapter of claim 40 further comprising arechargeable power source connected to the electrical connector.
 42. Theadapter of claim 41 further comprising a charging circuit coupled to therechargeable power source and the secondary winding.
 43. The adapter ofclaim 42 where the secondary winding is comprised of three orthogonalwindings.
 44. The adapter of claims 42 or 43, further comprising atransceiver for enabling communication between the remote device and thecontactless power supply.
 45. The adapter of claim 44 further comprisinga dongle connected to the transceiver for connecting the transceiver toa communication port on the remote device.
 46. The adapter of claim 45further comprising a dongle connector connected to the dongle forinsertion into the communication port.